Pickup attachment for harvesting implements



T. B. ROBERTS ET AL PICKUP ATTACHMENT FOR HARVESTING IMPLEMENTS March 9, 1943.

4 sheets-sheet 1' Filed M ?.y 5. 1941 March 9, 1.943. s. ROBERTS x-:rAL 313,670

PICKUP ATTACHMENT FOR HARVSTING IMPLEMENTS' Filed May 5, 1941 4 vsheevs--sheet 2 Mrch 9, 1943. f. B. ROBERTS Em, 2,313,670

PICKUP ATIACHMENT FOR HARVESTING IMPLEMENTS Filed May s, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 3 if? 271/007441? i March 9, 1943. T. B. ROBERTS E-rAL. 2,313,670

- 4 PICKUP 'I.".['ACI1MENT FOR HARVESTING IMPLEMENTS Filed May 5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z546 n H3 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 PICKUP ATTAonMENT'FoR HARvEs'rING IMPLEMENTS Turney B. Roberts and Bascomb E. Davenport, Memphis, Tex.

Appucanon May 5, 1941,'seria1No. 391,990

(o1. ta- 312) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to harvesting implements and more particularly an attachment for a combine for picking up grain or the like which has been blown down or otherwise bent over.

While harvesting machines have been designed provide an attachment which may be secured to a harvester and which is adapted to raise the products to substantially an upright position so that the harvester may cut the products in the normal manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pick-up attachment of this kind which is operated from a wheel of the harvester as the harvester moves along the ground.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pick-up attachment of this kind which may be easily and quickly mounted on or removed from a harvester and which will not affect the normal operation of the harvester, so that the attachment may be applied to the harvester only when the need therefor arises.

A `further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind which includes a pair of product raising arms which are secured to and which extend forwardly from the cutter of the harvester.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind which not only includes elevating arms for raising the grain, but also includes means for holding the grain upright until it has been cut.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind including a pair of endless carriers having projecting fingers which are movable rearwardly toward the cutters so' that the grain will be thereby held upright until the cutter comes into contact therewith, and the grainy is then subsequently directed to the conveyor forming part of the harvester,

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of'the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specically refered to and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is' to be understood that changes,`

yvariations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is'a detail side elevation partly broken away of 'a harvest implement or combine having a pick-up attachment mounted thereon which is constructed'according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top pl'an partly in section taken on line 2-'2 of Figure 1, of the forward end of the combiney and the attachment,

Figure 3 isa fragmentary side elevation partly in section and with the outer cover of one pickup member removed, Y

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional vview taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-'6 of Figure 2',

Figure 7 is a. fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i-I of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generallya combine or harvester structure which includes a cutter bar II mounted on the forward end of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined elevator structure including a chute I3 having an endless conveyor I2 moving on its upper run upwardly and rearwardly of the cutter bar II. The combine I0 also includes a draw bar structure I4 having a coupling member I5 at its forward' ,end which is adapted to be connected with a tractor or the like. A grain separating or treating member I6 is connected with the upperrear end of the elevator structure and extends rearwardly of supporting wheels I'I, which are rotatablycarried by the frame structure for the combineer 'harveter Ill,

In order to provide a means whereby the grain which has beenl levelled by storms including high winds, rain, hail or` the like may be raised to a substantially upright position so that the cutter bar i I may out the stalks of the grain as the harvester moves over the ground, we have provided a pick-up attachment, as will be hereinafter described, 'which is mounted 'on and extends forwardly of the elevator structure.

The pick-up attachment-'includes a pair of forwardly directed, Vforwardly `divergent and downwardly extending pick-upv members generally designated as I8 and I9. The pick-up member I3 includes a flat plate or frame' member 2E! `which in plan is substantially V-shape with an outer edge 2l thereof disposed substantially parallel with the chute I3. The inner edge 22 of the plate 28 is disposed in a forwardly and outwardly inclined position and the plate 2U at its forward end is supported by means of a combined bracing and supporting bar 23, which is secured to the under side of the plate 28 by fastening devices 24. The rear end of the brace or supporting member 23 is secured to a bearing member 25, which is carried by a pair of hanger arms 26 and 21. The arm 26 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the bearing structure 25 and is: se-` cured at its upper end as by fastening devices 28 to a transversely extending angle bar or frame member 29 forming part of the frame of the chute structure. The hanger or bearing supporting arm 21 is provided at its upper end with a base plate 38 secured as by a fastening device 3I to the under side of the stationary portion of the cutter bar II.

The plate 25 has secured thereto an upwardly and outwardly directed combined guiding member and guard plate 32. The plate 32 is supported with the lower inner edge thereof spaced upwardly from the inner edge 22 of the plate 20 by means of a plurality of substantially V-shaped bars 33 and 34, which are secured to the plates 28 and 32 by fastening devices 35 and 35. A combined guiding, supporting and stalk lifting shoe 31 is secured to the forward ends of the two plates 29 and 32 and is provided with an outwardly directed inner face portion 38, which is formed substantially as a continuation of the inner end portions of the two plates 28 and 32. A shaft 39 is carried by the forward end portion of the plate 2D and has rotatably mounted thereon a forward sprocket 4I). A chain generally designated as 4i is trained about the sprocket 48 and has the inner and outer runs 42 and 43 respectively disposed substantially parallel with the inner and outer edges 28 and 2| respectively of the plate 29. The chain 4I isA also trained about a substantially large sprocket 44, which is mounted on a vertical shaft 45.

The shaft 45 extends downwardly through the plate 29 and is journalled through a bearing 45 fixed to the under side of the cutter bar II. A bevelled sprocket 41 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 45 and is adapted to mesh with a sprocket 48 mounted on a horizontally disposed drive shaft 49. The drive shaft 49 is journalled through the bearing 25 and extends horizontally .below the forward end of the chute structure I3 and rearwardly of the cutter bar II. The shaft 49 has secured to one end portion thereof a sprocket 58 about which an endless chain 5I engages. The chain I also engages about a sprocket 52, which is xed relative to the wheel I1. In order to provide a means whereby the chain 5I may be maintained taut and maintained out of contact with the ground, we have provided a vertically disposed supporting bar 53 secured by fastening devices 54 to the chute-structure I3. A lower idler pulley 55 is journalled on a shaft 56 carried by the lower end portion of the bar 53 and an upper idler and chain tensioning pulley 51 is mounted on a shaft 58 carried by a pivoted arm 59. The arm 59 is pivotedron a pivot member 69 engaging the bar 53. A chain tensioning spring 6I is secured as at 62 to the bar 53 and is secured as at 63 to the arm 59.

` The chain 4I has secured thereto a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart fingers 64 which are adapted to project inwardly through the Y t l space between the two plates 20 and 32 in order to engage the stalks of the grain, which are sliding over the guiding plate 32. Preferably the rearward movement of the inner run 42 of the chain 4I is substantially equal to the forward movement of the tractor so that the grain stalks will be gradually raised to a substantially upright position as the combine I0 moves forwardly over the ground and the stalks engaging the guiding plate 32 will engage between pairs of inwardly directed fingers 84. The shaft 45 extends upwardly through an opening 55 formed in the plate 32 and the upper end portion of the shaft 45 is journalled in a bearing 55 secured by fastening devices 61 to the outer side of the chute I3. Preferably the side wall 68 of the chute I3 is formed with an elongated opening 59 through which the plate 20 extends and a similar opening 19 is provided above the opening 69 so that the rear portion of the plate 32 may be extended through the wall 68 of the chute I3. A collar 1I is secured by a fastening device 12 to the shaft 45 below the bearing 46 so as to thereby prevent upward movement of the shaft 45 during the rotation thereof.

A stalk guiding bar or arm 13 which is formed with a forward flat end portion 'I4 is secured by fastening devices 15 to the upper side of the plate or guide member 32 at a point forwardly of the rear end thereof. This bar or arm 13 eX- tends upwardly as at 1S from the upper Surface of the plate or guide member 32 and then extends rearwardly substantially parallel with the inner edge 22' of the plate 28 and terminates at its rear end portion in an arcuate and downwardly inclinedguiding member 11. The outer run 43 of the chain 4I is adapted to be enclosed in a metal guard or covering generally designated at 1S. The guard member 13 includes a flat guard plate 19 formed at its upper edge with a downwardly inclined flange 38 secured as by fastening devices 8| to the upper side of the guide member 32. The plate or guard member 18 is formed with a substantially vertical extension 82 which has formed integral with the lower edge thereof a right angularly disposed base plate 83 secured by fastening devices 84 to the under side of the plate 28.

The pick-up member E9 is constructed substantially identical to the construction of the pick-up member I8 and includes a base plate or frame member 85, which has disposed above the upper surface thereof a combined guard and guide plate 35. The plate 86 is supported above the base plate by substantially V-shaped supporting members 81, which are similar to the supporting members 33 and 34. An endless chain structure 83 engages above the base plate 85 and is trained about a forward sprocket B9 rotatably carried by a shaft 99. The chain 88 is formed with a plurality of spaced apart guiding lingers 9| similar to the lingers 64 and the chain 88 is trained about a rear sprocket 92, which is fixed to a vertical shaft 93. The shaft 93 is journalled in a bearing 94 carried by the cutter bar Hand a collar 95 is fixed to the shaft 93 and holds this shaft against endwise movement in an upward direction. A bevelled sprocket 96 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 93 and is adapted to mesh with a bevelled gear 91 xed to the shaft 49. A cover or guard member 98 similar to the cover or guard member 18 is secured by the two plates 85 and 85 and engages about the outer run of the chain 88. An upwardly olfset rearwardly extending guiding arm or bar 994 havingv a attened Yforward end .portionV is `ixexlfby fastening 4deyices .IOI, to the upperside ofxthefplate 86. ,Thenguiding member 99, is formed with ,an inwardly curved and down.- wardly directedyrear end portion |0?,which.is adapted tooveriie the forward portion of the ele,- vator or `conveyor* I2 rearwardly ,of `the cutter bar.

In order to provide a means whereby the ,stalks of the grain may be` forced rearwardly of the cutter bar I after they have been cut and maintainedin substantially an `upright position, we have `provided a rotatable wheel |03 `which is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 93. The wheel |03 is provided with a plurality of outwardly directed and longitudinally curved arms |04., which are adapted to project into the space between the two guide members I3 and 99 .and to be` disposed thereabove for forcing the cut stalks rearwardly between the guide members .13 and 99 and onto the conveyor l2.` The arms or fingers |04 are adapted to contact the stalks at a substantial distance above the lower or cut ends thereof, so as to swing lthe;upper endsof the stalks rearwardly and ,downwardly in order that the stalks may contact with the upwardly and rearwardly moving conveyor I2.

The draft member I4 has secured thereto the lower end of a vertically disposed supported pole |05 and the pole |05 is braced in a vertical position by means` of bracing members |03 .and I01,which are secured at their lower ends to the draft member I4.` A tensionable spring structure |03 is secured to an eye |09 carried by the pole |05 and the spring structure |08 is se-` cured at its lower end to an eye IIO which is `carried by the angle beam 29 at the end thereof opposite from the sprocket 50. The spring structure |08 is adapted to yieldingly hold the chute I3 with the cutter bar II at the desired spaced distance from the surface of the ground so that the shoe 38 at the forward end of the pick-up member i8 and the shoe I| at the forward end of the pick-up member AI9 may be disposed in substantial contact with the surface of the ground. Theshoe III is constructed similar to the shoe 38, but is oppositely directed as shown in Figure 2.

In the use and operation` of this pick-up` attachment the forward end of the chute I3 of the combine orharvester I0 has the two pick-up members I8 and I9 xedly secured thereto with the shaft 43 extending beneath the chute structure and journalled in bearings I|2 and II3 carried by hangers |I4 and II5 respectively. The

bearings H2 and ||3 are in addition to the bearings 2'5 and the bearing I|2 is disposed between the two gears 43 and 91. The chain 5I is engaged with a gear 52 mounted on the wheel I1 so that as the harvester or combine l0 is moved over the surface of the ground the shaft 49 will be rotated. Rotation of the shaft 49 will effect rotation of the two vertical shafts 45 and 93 and effect rearward movement of the inner runs of the two chains 4I and 83 so that the fingers 54 and 9| carried by the chains will move rearwardly past the cutter bar I The shoes 31 and III will initially raise the stalks of the grain so that the stalks will ride upwardly over the guide members 32 and 36 and these stalks will be held in a substantially upright position by means of the ngers 54 and 9|.

After the stalks have been cut the fingers or arms |04 carried by the wheel |03 will incline the upper portions of the stalks rearwardly and downwardly so that vthe stalks will r.fallonthe upper surface of the elevator I2. TheY Vstalks will then tbe carried upwardly by theelevator- I2 for engagement. with the grain removing. -or treating structure |6,.which is at the upper rear end `of the elevator I2.

The pick-up members I8` and I9 .are designed as an attachment for a conventional combine; or harvester so` that when the grain ,hasY been levelled by storms or the like, the grain fwillfnot Vbe lost to the farmer but may be raised .and

harvested by attaching the pick-.up members JIB and I9 onto the forward end of the combine.

It is to be understood thatthe termgrain as used hereinincludes the smallgrains, and corn or other products having stalks `which-onor'- mally rise above the ground and are` harvested by` means of a harvester having ,a reciprocating cutter or the like.

In the cutting of broadcast grains or the like, the machine would be driven spirally of the field with the cutter and pick-up member to the vin'- side. Each swath cut would be the width ofthe pick-up device.

What we claim is:

1. A pick-up attachment for harvesters comprising a pair of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended position from the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain 'elevating member carried by the forwardvend of each member, rearwardly movable ngers Carfried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said rst members, the outer guide member of said pairs of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, and a rotatable guide n carried by one of said rst members and including means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and moving the grainrearwardly of the cutter bar ina -subfv stantially upright position. i

2. A pick-up attachment for harvesters com-` prising a pair of forwardly divergentlmembers, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended positionfrom the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain ele'- vating member carried vby the forward endfof each member, rearwardly movable fingers-carried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said first members, the outer guide member of said pairs of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, and a, rotatable guide carried by one of said rst members and including means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and moving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in a substantially upright position, said latter means including a horizontally rotatable wheel and outwardly arms carried bysaid wheel.

3. A pick-up attachment for harvesters comprising a pail` of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended position from the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain elevating member carried by the forward end of each member, rearwardly movable fingers carried .by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said rst members, the outer guide member of said pairs of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, and a rotatable guide carried by one of said rst members and including means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and m'oving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in a substantially upright position said latter means including a horizontally rotatable wheel and outlwardly extending and longitudinally bent. arms carried by said wheel.

.4. A pick-up attachment fol` harvesters of the type having a grain cutter, comprisingV a Vvpair of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended position from the cutter bar, acombined supporting shoe and grain elevating member carried by the forward end of each member, rearwardly movable ngers carried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said rst members, said guide members .having their rear portions downwardly and` inwardly directed whereby the grain is guided toward the center of the machine the outer guide member of said pairs of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, and a rotatable guide carried by one of said first members and including means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and moving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in a sub- 5 stantially upright position.

I -5. A pick-up attachment for harvesters of the type having a, grain cutter comprising a pair of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said `members on the harvester in forwardly eX- tended position from the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain elevating member carried by the forward end of each member, rearwardly movable fingers carried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by `each of said first member, the outer guide member of said pair of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, a rotatable guide carried by one of said members at the rear of said member, said guide being positioned rearwardly of said cutter and means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and moving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in a substantially upright position.

6. A pick up attachment for harvesters of the type having a grain cutter comprising a pair of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended position from the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain elevating member carried by the forward end of each member, rearwardly movable fingers carried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said first member, said guide members having their rear portions downwardly and inwardly directed whereby the grain is guided toward the center of the machine, the outer guide member o-f said pair of guide members extend.-` ing substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, a rotatable guide carried by one of said members at the rear of said member, said guide being lpositioned rearwardly of said cutter, and means correlated with said guide members for maintaining the grain upright and moving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in substantially upright position.

7. A pick-up attachment for harvesters of the type having a grain cutter comprising a pair of forwardly divergent members, means mounting said members on the harvester in forwardly extended position from the cutter bar, a combined supporting shoe and grain elevating member carried by the forward end of each member, rearwardly movable fingers carried by each member, a pair of rearwardly converging rearwardly directed guide members carried one by each of said first members, said guide members having their rear portions downwardly and inwardly directed whereby the grain is guided to# ward the center of the machine, the outer guide member of said pair of guide members extending substantially further rearwardly than the inner guide member, a rotatable guide carried by one of said members at the rear of said member, said guide being positioned rearwardly of said cutter, and means correlated With said guide members for maintaining the guide upright and moving the grain rearwardly of the cutter bar in a substantially upright position, said rearwardly projecting guide members being positioned lower than and in part beneath said rotatable guide members.

BASCOMB E. DAVENPORT.

TURNEY B. ROBERTS. 

